Transcript Social Class and the 2008 US Presidential Election

Social Class and the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election
What is Social Class?
In everyday use, and even among sociologists,
the word “class” is used non-sociologically,
meaning “a kind of category:”
“A set, collection, group or configuration
containing members regarded as having certain
attributes or traits in common: a kind of
category” – American Heritage Dictionary 4th
ed. (2000).
What is Social Class?
The definition of class seems to vary by
researcher groups (marxists, neo-marxists,
weberians, neo-weberians, etc.).
Measurement/operationalization of class in
empirical research also varies by research
group.
What is Social Class?
The results of battles over definition and
measurement of social class are:
-- a big, long literature on class
-- fierce disagreement on how to interpret the
literature
-- periodic revivals of class analysis
-- emergence of class definition cults populated
with sociologists who are convinced that their
definition is the “right” one
-- confusion for students who try to synthesize
the literature.
What is Social Class?
Objective
Applying a criteria of
inclusion to an
individual in order to
place them in a class
category, regardless of
whether the individual
thinks they belong in
that class category
vs.
Subjective
The individual places
himself/herself in a
class category,
regardless of
whether the
researcher thinks
they belong in that
class category.
Who is in what class category?
What is Social Class?
Most definitions are concerned with the individual's relationship
with the economic sphere, as opposed to "cultural" classes or
"political" classes.
Sociologists engaging in modern class analysis identify
economic class position as an individual’s position in the
labor force.
Social class is largely based on the characteristics of their
occupation: the skill level required for the job, the degree to
which they are supervised by others, and who and how
many workers they supervise.
Managers, employers, unskilled manual workers, and so on.
What is Social Class?
Most definitions are concerned with the individual's relationship
with the economic sphere, as opposed to "cultural" classes or
"political" classes.
White collar
Blue collar
White collar
Blue collar
Upper nonmanual
Upper manual
Lower
nonmanual
Lower manual
Skill Level
Upper to upper
middle class
Upper middle
to middle class
Middle to
working class
Working class
What is Social Class?
Most definitions are concerned with the individual's relationship with the economic
sphere, as opposed to "cultural" classes or "political" classes.
Politicians define social classes primarily in terms of income.
Classes are divided within an income distribution. Take this
hypothetical example:
0 – 10,000
Lower Class
10,001 – 25,000
25,001 – 45,000
45,001 – 75,000
75,001 – 90,000
90,001 – 150,000+
Middle Class
Upper Middle to
Upper Class
What is Social Class?
Most definitions are concerned with the individual's relationship with the economic
sphere, as opposed to "cultural" classes or "political" classes.
They then attach occupations to it that earn, roughly, that
amount of income:
0 – 10,000
10,001 – 25,000
25,001 – 45,000
45,001 – 75,000
75,001 – 90,000
90,001 – 150,000+
Lower Class
Waiter/waitress, temporary worker
Middle Class
Clerical worker, small employer
Upper Middle to
Upper Class
Stock broker, manager of large firm
What is Social Class?
Americans, especially in the American media, do not
talk about class distinctions. The only class that is
talked about with some frequency is „the middle
class.”
Americans believe in equality of opportunity, not
equality of results. Therefore, class doesn’t matter.
All that matters is whether everyone (who „works
hard” and „plays by the rules”) has an equal chance
for social mobility. As long as everyone has an equal
chance, why bother talking about class?
Class Category
Vote Tendency
Professionals
Democrat
Managers,
administrators, and
nonretail sales workers
Owners and proprietors
Republican
Nonmanagerial white
collar workers
Skilled workers and
foremen
Semi-skilled and
unskilled blue collar
workers
Democrat
Republican
Volatile
Volatile, towards
Republican in close
elections
Source: Manza, J. Hout, M. & C. Brooks (1995). Class voting in capitalist democracies
since World war II: dealignment, realignment, or trendless fluctuation? Annual
Review of Sociology
Vote by Income Group in 2004 U.S. Presidential Election
TOTAL
BUSH
2004
KERRY
2004
Under $15,000 (8%)
36%
63%
$15-30,000 (15%)
42%
57%
$30-50,000 (22%)
49%
50%
$50-75,000 (23%)
56%
43%
$75-100,000 (14%)
55%
45%
$100-150,000 (11%)
57%
42%
$150-200,000 (4%)
58%
42%
$200,000 or More (3%)
63%
35%
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html
„Pocketbook Voting” in 2004 U.S. Presidential Election
FAMILY'S FINANCIAL
SITUATION
BUSH
KERRY
TOTAL
2004
2004
Better (32%)
80%
19%
Worse (28%)
20%
79%
Same (39%)
49%
50%
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html
Vote by Union Membership in 2004 U.S. Presidential Election
ARE YOU A UNION MEMBER?
BUSH
KERRY
Yes (14%)
38%
61%
No (86%)
54%
45%
TOTAL
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html
"Joe, in his plainspoken way, said this sounded a lot like
socialism. And a lot of Americans are thinking along those
same lines. In the best case, 'spreading the wealth around' is a
familiar idea from the American left. And that kind of class
warfare sure doesn't sound like a 'new kind of politics...’
At least in Europe, the socialist leaders who so admire my
opponent are upfront about their objectives... We should
demand equal candor from Senator Obama. Raising taxes on
some in order to give checks to others is not a tax cut; it's just
another government giveaway."
-- Senator John McCain (AZ), Republican Presidential Nominee
2008, in weekly radio address October 2008
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/19/mccain-decries-obamas-socialism/
Final 2008 Presidential Election Polls (as of Nov. 4,
2008)
Obama
52
51
44
CNN
44.2
Real Clear Politics
McCain
55
50
43
FOX News
44
Gallup